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USAID
expedites emergency food aid
to HoA
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ADDIS
ABEBA(August 22, 2008) - The United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday announced that it
was expediting the shipment of nearly 24,000 metric tons (MT) of food
aid to help the millions of people in need of assistance in the Horn
of Africa.
The shipment includes 9,390 MT of split yellow peas, 6,150 MT of vegetable
oil, 6,320 MT of corn soy blend, and 1,400 MT of wheat flour, the
agency said in a statement.
"This is only one of multiple strategies USAID is implementing
to alleviate impacts of the world food crisis in that region and elsewhere
around the world", it said.
Accordingly, USAID's Office of Food for Peace plans to provide over
1 million MT of food, valued at more than $857 million, to Ethiopia,
Somalia, Kenya and Djibouti in fiscal year 2008 in response to the
drought emergency affecting the Horn of Africa.
"USAID is committed to helping the people in the Horn of Africa
who have been so greatly affected by drought, civil insecurity, and
rising local and global food prices," said USAID Administrator
Henrietta H. Fore in the statement.
"Our team in the region is working tirelessly to get aid to those
inneed as soon as possible."
This expedited shipment is expected to arrive in port in the Horn
of
Africa approximately 10 weeks after the food aid tender was issued.
The food was loaded onto a vessel that is scheduled to depart the
Port of Houston this week and is expected to arrive at port in the
Horn of Africa in mid-September. |
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